Chrome bling never too much for Harley

Tag : chrome

HARLEY-DAVIDSON makes money out of understanding the universal needfor shiny things.
Straight off the shop floor most Harleys shine more than youraverage Honda, and for those that like their HD to blind onlookers,there's a seriously fat accessory catalogue full of go-faster bits,chrome gee-gaws and custom knick-knacks.

It's all so addictive. When I owned a Harley in my youth, rainySundays would be spent pouring over the parts book, matching gastanks with seats and sissy bars, and tossing up whether to splurgeon the chrome rocker covers or save up for the hot cam.
For those with both a hunger for lots of shiny things and the meansto satiate that need, HD makes a line of small-batch bikes calledCVOs, which stands for Custom Vehicle Operations.
There are CVO versions of the Electra Glide, the Road King, theDyna and the one tested here, the Softail.
Creating a CVO Softail is straightforward. Take the standard bikeand bolt on the lovely, 1930s retro, springer front-end. Then dropthe big 110 cubic-inch B model version of Harley's twin-cam,45-degree, overhead valve V-twin between the frame rails.
After that, add pretty much every single chromium plated gee-gawavailable for the Softail out of the catalogue and spray what'sleft in multiple coats of an orange concoction that leaves groovyflames on the tank which actually flicker as the light changes.
At close on $60K, the Softail and its other CVO brethren are notfor your mere mortal HD buyer, although rich boys and girls used tospending close on half a million to make a statement with fourwheels would see the CVO Softail as a bargain.
And make a statement it does. People accosted me at traffic lightsto learn more about the flaming orange motorcycle. Kids pointed,dogs barked and other riders did a double-take.
Even those on the zenith of narcissism -- namely, HD-riding NorthSydney advertising execs -- glanced at this Softail.
If you want people to look at what's between your legs then the CVOSoftail is guaranteed to pull the eyeballs, but it rides prettywell into the bargain.
Sure, there's all the usual problems of Softail ownership, such asperilously little ground clearance or suspension travel, which hadthe bike skipping around on rough corners and bottoming-out onbumps that wouldn't phase most bikes. But almost all is forgivenwhen you roll the twistgrip back and let the big 110B do its thing-- oodles of low-rev power accompanied by HD's classic 45 V-twinmusic from throaty (but legal) pipes.
The motor will rev to somewhere north of 5000rpm if asked, andbalancer shafts smooth out those 900cc-a-cylinder pulses -- butshort shifting just under 3000rpm is the key to bliss. A clonky butpositive six-speed transmission with a tall top gear gives arelaxing 110km/h highway cruise.
I say almost all is forgiven when the motor sings, because there'sa shock when it comes time to stop -- you quickly discover thesingle-piston front disc is not up to the task of interrupting theprogress of 326kg worth of chrome and steel. For this sort ofmoney, HD should fit a decent front stopper. Fast.
Unlike some Harleys, I found the relationship between the low seat,flat bars and forward control footpegs just right.
While the suspension feels vintage, the steering from the mildlyextended springer front-end and 18-inch front wheel ispoint-and-shoot fun. The rider's seat is OK for an hour or so inthe saddle but the skimpy pillion seat is not good for much morethan a ride around the block, which is a shame, because takingpeople for leisurely putts on a Softail is a pleasure doubled.